ECB 'unaware' of Stanford reports

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Reports in Wednesday's Daily Mail suggested Stanford was to axe his multi-million dollar deal, which was only signed last summer following negotiations with ECB chairman Giles Clarke, having decided to end his involvement with Twenty20 cricket in West Indies.

"We are unaware of the alleged developments," claimed an ECB spokesman. "One of the problems we have is that we are five and a half hours ahead of London, who in turn are five hours ahead of America so we are going to have to juggle time zones."

Reports claim Stanford was set to withdraw having already lost US$40million on the venture, comprising $20million to the victorious Super Stars team and $20million in television and sponsorship deals connected to the annual showdown between his side and England.

Stanford was also expected to bankroll the proposed England Premier League Twenty20 tournament, which is due to start in 2009 and feature his All Stars team as one of two overseas sides, while there was also expected to be an annual four-team Twenty20 tournament at Lord's.

Clarke is currently with the England team preparing for the second Test against India at Mohali, but is yet to be informed of the developments.

Stanford is believed to have already called his eight Legends, which include Sir Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, into the office in Antigua to tell them their contracts - thought to be worth $10,000 a month - were being terminated.

The end of his high-profile relationship with West Indies cricket, which has plunged vast funds into the Board's coffers in an attempt to lift their flagging fortunes, will also be a costly blow to them.

Both the West Indies and England Boards were due to receive $3.5million a year for the Stanford Super Series while each player in the winning side also received $1million.

A further $1million was shared between the backroom staff of the winning side while $1million was given the reserves of the winning side, which resulted in England receiving nothing for this year's event after being hammered by 10 wickets in October.